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Title: Chemical composition and biological activity of the essential oil of rhizome of Zingiber zerumbet (L.) smith

Author
item SINGH, CHINGAKHAM - University Of Mississippi
item CHANU, SAIKHOM - University Of Mississippi
item KH, LENIN - University Of Mississippi
item SWAPANA, NINGOMBAM - University Of Mississippi
item Cantrell, Charles
item ROSS, SAMIR - University Of Mississippi

Submitted to: Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/30/2014
Publication Date: 10/21/2014
Citation: Singh, C.B., Chanu, S.B., Kh, L., Swapana, N., Cantrell, C.L., Ross, S.A. 2014. Chemical composition and biological activity of the essential oil of rhizome of Zingiber zerumbet (L.) smith. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 3(3):130-133.

Interpretive Summary: Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith is a monocotyledonous perennial medicinal plant belonging to the Zingiberaceae family. It is known as shampoo ginger or pinecone ginger as its rhizomes produce foaming properties likes that of shampoo. The aim was designed to study the biological activity and chemical composition of essential oil of Zingiber zerumbet. The essential oil extracted from the rhizome of the plant was analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and its major components amounting to 98.4 % were found to be zerumbone (75.2%), alpha-caryophyllene (7.1%), camphene (5.1%), eucalyptol (2.4%), and camphor (3.0%). The essential oil and zerumbone exhibited antimalarial and antileishmanial activities whereas only Cryptococcus neoformans showed antimicrobial activity on the essential oil.

Technical Abstract: Technical Abstract: The aim was designed to study the biological activity and chemical composition of essential oil of Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith. The essential oil extracted from the rhizome of the plant was analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and its major components amounting to 98.4 % were found to be zerumbone (75.2%), a- caryophyllene (7.1%), camphene (5.1%), eucalyptol (2.4%), and camphor (3.0%). Antioxidant activity and total phenol content assay were studied using the DPPH and Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric methods. Antimalarial, anti-leishmanial, antimicrobial assays were analysed for the essential oil and its major component, zerumbone. The essential oil and zerumbone exhibited antimalarial and antileishmanial activities whereas only Cryptococcus neoformans showed antimicrobial activity on the essential oil.